Recently, most businesses have introduced a system for improving their responsibility to the customers in terms of job improvement. For example, small-quantity batch production increases cost but improve efficiency of...Recently, most businesses have introduced a system for improving their responsibility to the customers in terms of job improvement. For example, small-quantity batch production increases cost but improve efficiency of management. Companies have been introduced the balanced scorecard to evaluate their management as part of improvement, while they suffer from many trials and errors. Many businesses still have difficulty in introducing balance scorecard concept in their process, but we suggest a method to successfully introduce the balance scorecard. This study aims to suggest a new performance measurement model reflecting relative importance of the key performance indicators for each factor. Our model is applied to several companies in real-world to validate the new model. Also, our study proposes a methodology for an adequate performance measurement using multiple attribute decision making.展开更多
Having the two largest nursing workforces across the globe,both China and the United States have implemented licensure examinations to standardize the qualifications of registered nurse.China established the National ...Having the two largest nursing workforces across the globe,both China and the United States have implemented licensure examinations to standardize the qualifications of registered nurse.China established the National Nursing Licensure Examination(NNLE)in 1995.Like the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses(NCLEX-RN)in the United States,the NNLE has become an important link in the nurse registration process and contributed a lot in quality assurance and development of nursing profession.It may be necessary for the NNLE to learn from NCLEX-RN in several aspects,including increasing the frequency of exam,providing examinees with individualized services,and continuing reforming exam content and format.By better aligning the content and format of the examination with the current nursing paradigm and clinical requirements,nurses may enter the healthcare field better prepared to care for patients.Considering the magnitude of their nursing workforce,both China and the United States have great potential to serve as a role model for other developing countries as they look towards establishing national nursing education programs.As new policies around standardized nurse education in China take form,we urge that the NNLE be included alongside curricular reforms.As these reforms are implemented,continued research will be needed to evaluate the effectiveness of curriculum and licensure exam regulations upon nurse preparedness and quality of nursing care in China.展开更多
AIM:To evaluate the contribution of alcohol dehydrogenase-1B(ADH1B)and aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2)polymorphisms to the risk of esophageal cancer.METHODS:Nineteen articles were included by searching MEDLINE,EMBASE...AIM:To evaluate the contribution of alcohol dehydrogenase-1B(ADH1B)and aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2)polymorphisms to the risk of esophageal cancer.METHODS:Nineteen articles were included by searching MEDLINE,EMBASE and the Chinese Biomedical Database,13 on ADH1B and 18 on ALDH2.We performed a meta-analysis of case-control studies including 13 studies on ADH1B(cases/controls:2390/7100)and 18 studies on ALDH2(2631/6030).RESULTS:The crude odds ratio[OR(95%confidence interval)]was 2.91(2.04-4.14)for ADH1B*1/*1(vs ADH1B*2/*2)and 1.32(1.17-1.49)for ADH1B*1/*2.The crude OR for ALDH2*1/*2(vs ALDH2*1/*1)was 2.52(1.76-3.61).ADH1B*1/*1 increased the risk of esophageal cancer among never/rare[1.56(0.93-2.61)],moderate[2.71(1.37-5.35)],and heavy drinkers[3.22 (2.27-4.57)].ADH1B*1/*2 was associated with a modest risk among moderate drinkers[1.43(1.09-1.87)].ALDH2*1/*2 increased the risk among never/rare[1.28 (0.91-1.80)],moderate[3.12(1.95-5.01)],and heavy [7.12(4.67-10.86)]drinkers,and among ex-drinkers [5.64(1.57-20.25)].ALDH2*2/*2 increased the risk among drinkers[4.42(1.72-11.36)].ADH1B*1/*1 plus ALDH2*1/*2 was associated with the highest risk for heavy drinkers[12.45(2.9-53.46)].The results of the meta-regression analysis showed that the effects of ADH1B*1/*1 and ALDH2*1/*2 increased with the level of alcohol consumption.ALDH2*1/*2 was associated with a high risk among Taiwan Chinese and Japanese drinkers,as opposed to a moderate risk among drinkers in high-incidence regions of China's Mainland.ADH1B*1/*1 in heavy drinkers and ALDH2*1/*2 in moderate-toheavy drinkers was associated with similarly high risk among both men and women.CONCLUSION:ADH1B/ALDH2 genotypes affect the risk of esophageal cancer,and the risk is modified by alcohol consumption,ethnicity,and gender.展开更多
Objective:To grasp the general situation of Chinese urological surgeons and the status quo of their scientific research,work and training,thus providing valuable recommendations for urological talent team construction...Objective:To grasp the general situation of Chinese urological surgeons and the status quo of their scientific research,work and training,thus providing valuable recommendations for urological talent team construction in future.Methods:The survey respondentswere the urological surgeons,who held the Certificate ofMedical Practitioner in the People’s Republic of China,whose scope of practice was confined to urological surgery.The urological surgeons involved in the project completed an online questionnaire survey.All the data were collected through the internet.Results:There were a total of 18981 urological surgeons in China in 2015,of whom 15875 from 2602 hospitals participated in this project,with a mean age of 39.64 years old.In 2015,1949631 cases of surgery were performed,including 493723 cases of open surgery,1146444 cases of endoscopic/laparoscopic surgery(robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery were excluded),6259 robot-assisted surgery and other types of urological surgery.Besides,Chinese urological surgeons published 1358 monographs as well as 14558 academic papers,and also obtained 2064 scientific funds in 2015.A total of 92122 person-time participated in academic conferences.Urological surgeons with higher educational degrees as well as higher academic titles and from Eastern China or higher-level hospitals hadmore opportunities to participate in further education and training.展开更多
The objective of the present study was to investigate our novel methods for the repair of massive cartilage defects by joint distraction and motion using an external fixator. In this study, we used a rabbit model of m...The objective of the present study was to investigate our novel methods for the repair of massive cartilage defects by joint distraction and motion using an external fixator. In this study, we used a rabbit model of massive articular cartilage defect in order to evaluate the effectiveness of using joint distraction and motion with a ring-type external fixator. This external fixator has a hinged joint with a center of rotation along the femoral transepicondylar axis, which allows the knee joint to freely flex and extend. Mesenchymal cells from bone marrow, induced by spongialization, were differentiated into mature chondrocytes and formed hyaline-like cartilage as a result of joint distraction and movement. The transplantation of autologous cells expanded from bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal cells, concentrated autologous bone marrow aspirate, and concentrated autologous peripheral blood cells were all effective in promoting cartilage repair. The quality of the cartilage after long-term joint distraction for 6 months was inferior to that after 12 weeks. In general, weight bearing on the regenerated cartilage promoted cartilage repair, although this effect differed based on when gradual weight bearing was begun. Specifically, gradual weight bearing beginning at 9 weeks produced superior results to that beginning at 6 weeks. Our methods provide an optimal environment for cartilage regeneration.展开更多
Thermal processing of milk is an important unit operation to inactivate the spoilage organism and enzymes and thus increase the storage life of milk, It was very difficult to find out the temperature distribution insi...Thermal processing of milk is an important unit operation to inactivate the spoilage organism and enzymes and thus increase the storage life of milk, It was very difficult to find out the temperature distribution inside the cans during thermal processing. A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model was developed for thermization of milk in the can heating at 65℃ for the first time to determine the temperature distribution in the canned milk at stationary position. This developed CFD model was validated with the experimental measurements of temperature. The effects of thermization temperature on milk flow profile (velocity), milk temperature and viscosity profiles inside the can during thermal process were investigated. Temperature profiles of milk in can at three different planes (i.e. top, middle and bottom plane) were studied. Moreover, thermization unit was calculated by correlating with temperature and it was found that maximum thermization unit was achieved at 540 s of thermal processing of milk in can.展开更多
The HIV/AIDS epidemic has grown on an unprecedented scale since it was first recognized, and presently it is considered as a well known global public health crisis. In making the health policy where millions of popula...The HIV/AIDS epidemic has grown on an unprecedented scale since it was first recognized, and presently it is considered as a well known global public health crisis. In making the health policy where millions of populations are at risk, it is necessary to understand the knowledge level about HIV/AIDS. So, this study aimed at to investigate the knowledge level about HIV/AIDS among the villagers. Data and necessary information were collected from one hundred villagers of Salmanpur from Comilla district, Bangladesh through a structured questionnaire. The collected data were used for univariate analysis, to carry out the description of the variables;and to justify the total score of knowledge about HIV/AIDS among the respondents, Cronbach’s alpha (α) was calculated. The results revealed that almost all the respondents (92.00%) were ever heard about HIV/AIDS and half of them (51.00%) were known it as a communicable disease. Majority of the respondents (62.00%) believed that it is caused by heterosexual relation as well as sex with HIV positive persons. However, a good number of respondents were found unaware about the major causes and preventive ways of AIDS. Less than half of the respondents (45.00%) had medium knowledge (α = 0.34 - 0.66) and only 36.00% had the enough knowledge about HIV/AIDS. The knowledge level is increasing with the increase of education level, and the respondents who involved in agricultural works are found the lowest knowledge level (47.00%) about HIV/AIDS. The villagers were known about HIV/AIDS but they do not have accurate information about the ways in which AIDS virus can or cannot be transmitted. Therefore, effective programs should be taken to increase the knowledge level about HIV/AIDS among the villagers in Bangladesh.展开更多
The different solvent extracts of the leaves of Plectranthus amboinicus were evaluated for their antioxidant and anti-bacterial properties. The ethyl acetate extract of the leaves which had the highest polyphenolic co...The different solvent extracts of the leaves of Plectranthus amboinicus were evaluated for their antioxidant and anti-bacterial properties. The ethyl acetate extract of the leaves which had the highest polyphenolic content showed an appreciable DPPH radical scavenging activity as well as total antioxidant capacity as compared with extracts obtained using hexane, acetone, methanol, hydroalcohol and freeze dried form. The acetone extract of the leaves which had the second highest polyphenolic content showed appreciable antibacterial activity with least MIC values against the tested foodborne pathogens namely Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli and Yersinia enterocolitica. The findings indicated the potentiality of ethyl acetate and acetone extract of the leaves of Indian borage for use as biopreservatives as they showed high antioxidant and antibacterial activities.展开更多
Bangladesh is on target for achieving the Millennium Development Goal 4 relating to infant and under-five mortality because of very rapid reduction in mortality in recent years. But this rate of reduction may be diffi...Bangladesh is on target for achieving the Millennium Development Goal 4 relating to infant and under-five mortality because of very rapid reduction in mortality in recent years. But this rate of reduction may be difficult to sustain and may hamper the achievement of Millennium Development Goal 4. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to discuss and compare the dif- ferent covariates of infant and under-five mortality in the context of overall country, urban and rural levels of Bangladesh using discriminant analysis. For this, the data are taken from Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, 2004. In discriminant analysis, the stepwise procedure has been picked up and only the significant variables are ranked according to the rank of Wilk's Lambda val- ues. The canonical discriminant function coefficients (unstandard- ized and standardized) for the predictor variables have also been calculated. Both the results show that breastfeeding is the most important variable in discriminating the two groups of mothers, i.e., mothers experiencing to infant mortality or not and mothers experiencing to under-five mortality or not. The related results of discriminant function also indicate that the discriminant func- tion is statistically significant and discriminates well. Therefore, improvements in the health system are essential for promoting the breastfeeding practices (both inclusive and exclusive), which may be the effective strategies to reach families and communities with targeted messages and information.展开更多
Objective:To examine the determinants of emergency contraceptive pill use in Bangladesh.Methods:Data for this cross-sectional study came from 2017-2018 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey.Characteristics of 906 r...Objective:To examine the determinants of emergency contraceptive pill use in Bangladesh.Methods:Data for this cross-sectional study came from 2017-2018 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey.Characteristics of 906 reproductive age women who were potential candidates for using emergency contraceptive pill were analysed in this study.Data were analysed using univariate and multivariate analyses.Stepwise binary logistic regression was employed as multivariate analysis.Results:Only 10.9%candidates were found to ever use emergency contraceptive pill.The odds of using emergency contraceptive pill for women visited by family planning field worker was significantly higher than that for those who were not visited by family planning field worker[odds ratio(OR)1.94;95%confidence interval(CI)1.19–3.17;P=0.008],while the odds of using emergency contraceptive pill for women with high socioeconomic status was higher than that for those with low socioeconomic status(OR 3.10;95%CI 1.61–5.97;P=0.001).Additionally,having some media access was linked to an increase in the odds of using emergency contraceptive pill(OR 3.01;95%CI 1.33–6.83;P=0.008).Women empowerment related factors did not show any significant effect on emergency contraceptive pill use.Conclusions:The findings indicate that family planning programme has a great opportunity of playing an important role in increasing emergency contraceptive pill use in Bangladesh by increasing the knowledge and awareness of women about emergency contraceptive pill.展开更多
This article attempts to examine the influence of some selected predictor variables on female age at first marriage in slum areas of Bangladesh.A path and multiple classification analysis(MCA) approach have been adopt...This article attempts to examine the influence of some selected predictor variables on female age at first marriage in slum areas of Bangladesh.A path and multiple classification analysis(MCA) approach have been adopted.Authors thought that respondent's educational level and the mass media such as watching television have a significant direct impact on age at marriage,while the types of family and occupational status have an indirect effect on age at marriage.展开更多
The identification and mitigation of anomaly data,characterized by deviations from normal patterns or singularities,stand as critical endeavors in modern technological landscapes,spanning domains such as Non-Fungible ...The identification and mitigation of anomaly data,characterized by deviations from normal patterns or singularities,stand as critical endeavors in modern technological landscapes,spanning domains such as Non-Fungible Tokens(NFTs),cyber-security,and the burgeoning metaverse.This paper presents a novel proposal aimed at refining anomaly detection methodologies,with a particular focus on continuous data streams.The essence of the proposed approach lies in analyzing the rate of change within such data streams,leveraging this dynamic aspect to discern anomalies with heightened precision and efficacy.Through empirical evaluation,our method demonstrates a marked improvement over existing techniques,showcasing more nuanced and sophisticated result values.Moreover,we envision a trajectory of continuous research and development,wherein iterative refinement and supplementation will tailor our approach to various anomaly detection scenarios,ensuring adaptability and robustness in real-world applications.展开更多
The public health significance of Yersinia spp. gives a new dimension to the prevailing food chain, wherein the foods do get exposed to heat and cold treatments. In this study, the effect of heat treatment on the nati...The public health significance of Yersinia spp. gives a new dimension to the prevailing food chain, wherein the foods do get exposed to heat and cold treatments. In this study, the effect of heat treatment on the native isolates of Yersinia enterocolitica CFR 2301 and Y. intermedia CFR 2303 revealed the D-values ranging from the lowest of 0.08 min at 65℃ in skim milk/beef gravy to the highest of 18.52 min at 50℃ in beef gravy. The heat sensitivity of both these cultures was in the order of Milli-Q water > 0.85% saline > skim milk > beef gravy. The z-values of the test cultures ranged from 7.55℃ for Y. intermedia to 12.08℃ for Y. enterocolitica. The heat sensitivity in Y. enterocolitica appeared to be related with growth incubation temperatures and also fatty acid profile of cell membrane. The effect of low temperature treatments (–20 ℃, 0℃ and 4℃ for 20 d) in water, saline and skim milk revealed the ability of Y. enterocolitica to survive more efficiently at –20℃, while Y. intermedia was more tolerant at 0℃. In packaged drinking water, Y. enterocolitica could survive and grow at 4℃ and 16℃, while at 30℃, inactivation was rapid. The findings did indicate that heat and cold treatments would not always ensure safety from Y. enterocolitica and Y. intermedia in the food chain.展开更多
Milk chocolates were prepared by replacing skim milk powder in the formulation with yoghurt powder at 50% and 100% levels. The effect of incorporating yoghurt powder on quality of chocolates was studied. No significan...Milk chocolates were prepared by replacing skim milk powder in the formulation with yoghurt powder at 50% and 100% levels. The effect of incorporating yoghurt powder on quality of chocolates was studied. No significant changes were observed in fatty acid profile and hardness of the chocolates. Sour taste of chocolate with yoghurt powder due to its acidity was neutralized by adding calculated amount of sodium bicarbonate. Sensory analysis showed that probiotic chocolates were highly acceptable and similar to control chocolate. Microbiological studies of chocolates showed the presence of Lactobacillus species to the extent of 3.37 log·cfu/g, which were not present in the control sample prepared only with skim milk powder. Rheological studies showed that milk chocolate prepared using yoghurt powder at 50% showed no significant changes in yield value compared to that of control, but at 100% addition a considerable decrease in yield value was observed. Microstructural properties of chocolate with 50% addition of yoghurt powder showed smaller particles adhering to the cocoa and sugar crystals but at 100% addition of yoghurt powder, the cocoa particles were completely covered by smaller yoghurt powder matrix.展开更多
Bali Island, Indonesia is undergoing rapid land use changes due to heavy development pressure and its fast growing urban population. One such urbanization phenomenon is the shrinkage, deterioration, and disappearance ...Bali Island, Indonesia is undergoing rapid land use changes due to heavy development pressure and its fast growing urban population. One such urbanization phenomenon is the shrinkage, deterioration, and disappearance of traditional small urban green spaces in Denpasar, Bali. Focusing on telajakan, a strip of traditional green space between the wall of a housing compound and a ditch/pedestrian path in a roadside, the study aims 1) to investigate and document the changes that are occurring with regards to telajakan and 2) to assess the functions (roles) of telajakan in Denpasar. The research methods include vegetation assessment at a lot scale and in-depth homeowner and village leader interviews with the help of local experts. The results show that telajakan space is often paved over to give way to more front space for the property owner and to ease maintenance. It is also minimized or destroyed as the owner builds a more “western” style house. Traditionally telajakan has multiple functions such as provision of plant and flower materials for Balinese daily rituals, regu-lation of stormwater from the property, and offering semi-public space for street vendors and neighbours. However, the results show that: diversity of planted species is decreasing;only a couple of functions such as aesthetics and economics are strongly favored;and the semi-public nature of telajakan is being lost. Since telajakan is as much traditional green open space as part of the aesthetics of the Balinese architecture, its loss, minimization, and degradation lead to the loss of Balinese culture and identity. On the other hand, new meaning is given to telajakan’s functions such as neighborhood beautification and exhibition of the owner’s pride in the modern context. Therefore, policy recommendations to conserve telajakan in the changing urban fabric need to balance these changing needs of telajakan for its use and conservation of traditional rituals and culture of Bali.展开更多
The main purpose of this study is to find the awareness level as well as the determinants of awareness on HIV/AIDS among the garments workers in Dhaka City, Bangladesh. To do so, 200 garments workers were interviewed ...The main purpose of this study is to find the awareness level as well as the determinants of awareness on HIV/AIDS among the garments workers in Dhaka City, Bangladesh. To do so, 200 garments workers were interviewed through a structured questionnaire using purposive sampling technique. As the statistical tools, univariate analysis was completed to figure out frequency distribution and the binary logistic regression model was used to predict the probability occurrence of the events by fitting data. The results revealed that the majority of the garments workers (63.5%) are very young (18 - 27 years), almost all (97.5%) are literate and most of them (57.0%) used contraceptives. Importantly, most of the respondents (64.0%) had not participated in any type of seminar or workshop related to HIV/AIDS, though almost all the respondents (84.5%) know HIV is a dangerous and life threatening disease. The logistic regression model identified that respondents' education, contraceptive usage, mass media and HIV workshops have statistically significant positive effects on HIV/AIDS awareness. Various media campaigns are strongly suggested to be increased knowledge and awareness to control the spread of HIV as well as STDs among garments workers in Bangladesh.展开更多
The effect of two fixed vertical boundaries, a finite distance apart, on the dynamics of a column of buoyant fluid rising in a less buoyant fluid is investigated in the presence of vertical rotation. It is shown that ...The effect of two fixed vertical boundaries, a finite distance apart, on the dynamics of a column of buoyant fluid rising in a less buoyant fluid is investigated in the presence of vertical rotation. It is shown that the presence of the boundaries introduces two main effects on a rotating plume. They tend to stabilise the plume but succeed only reducing the value of the growth rate and the plume remains unstable for all finite values of the distance between the boundaries and the plume. In the absence of the sidewalls, two modes of the instability were found known as the sinuous mode and the varicose mode. The influence of the boundaries is such that it reduces the growth rate of the varicose mode more than that of the sinuous mode and consequently the modified sinuous mode is always preferred in the presence of the boundaries.展开更多
Shikimic acid is a hydroaromatic compound possessing critical biological properties,such as antibacterial and antiviral activity.This review mainly focused on shikimic acid and its derivatives.We first briefly introdu...Shikimic acid is a hydroaromatic compound possessing critical biological properties,such as antibacterial and antiviral activity.This review mainly focused on shikimic acid and its derivatives.We first briefly introduced the sources of shikimic acid and its derivatives and discussed their biosynthesis.Several in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that shikimic acid and its derivatives exhibit diverse bioactivities,such as antioxidant,antiviral,anti-inflammatory,antibacterial,hypolipidemic,bone protective,skin protective,neuroprotective,and antidiabetic activities.We mainly focused on the related molecular mechanisms.Overall,the wide range of bioactivities of shikimic acid and its derivatives indicate that a more detailed exploration of their potential for the prevention and treatment of certain diseases is warranted.展开更多
Bali Island, Indonesia, is undergoing rapid land use changes owing to tourism-related development and urbanization. Consequently, urban green spaces, which provide a myriad of benefits to residents, are disappearing a...Bali Island, Indonesia, is undergoing rapid land use changes owing to tourism-related development and urbanization. Consequently, urban green spaces, which provide a myriad of benefits to residents, are disappearing and deteriorating. Focusing on telajakan, a strip of traditional green space between the frontal wall of a housing compound and a ditch/pedestrian path in a roadside, the study aims: 1) to investigate and document the changes that are occurring with regards to telajakan in Denpasar, Bali and 2) to evaluate the functions of the plantings in telajakan. The research methods include literature review on traditional green spaces in Bali, vegetation survey at a lot scale, and homeowner interviews with the help of local experts. The study found that: 1) aesthetics, economics, and rituals are the top three functions provided by the telajakan plants with aesthetic function being by far the most provided function;2) species diversity does not correspond with functional diversity;and 3) telajakan space itself is often minimized or sometimes lost completely for more inner, privatized space or for vehicle parking lot for shop owners. Since telajakan is an important component of traditional Balinese architecture, its loss, degradation, and marginalization necessarily lead to the loss of Balinese culture and identity. This study hints, however, a new form of social interaction through aesthetically-pleasing telajakan. Also, functional diversity, which is arguably as important as species diversity, can be maintained by carefully selecting indigenous species with multiple functions.展开更多
文摘Recently, most businesses have introduced a system for improving their responsibility to the customers in terms of job improvement. For example, small-quantity batch production increases cost but improve efficiency of management. Companies have been introduced the balanced scorecard to evaluate their management as part of improvement, while they suffer from many trials and errors. Many businesses still have difficulty in introducing balance scorecard concept in their process, but we suggest a method to successfully introduce the balance scorecard. This study aims to suggest a new performance measurement model reflecting relative importance of the key performance indicators for each factor. Our model is applied to several companies in real-world to validate the new model. Also, our study proposes a methodology for an adequate performance measurement using multiple attribute decision making.
基金This work was supported by Health Professional Education Foundation of Thailand and China Medical Board(12-121)
文摘Having the two largest nursing workforces across the globe,both China and the United States have implemented licensure examinations to standardize the qualifications of registered nurse.China established the National Nursing Licensure Examination(NNLE)in 1995.Like the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses(NCLEX-RN)in the United States,the NNLE has become an important link in the nurse registration process and contributed a lot in quality assurance and development of nursing profession.It may be necessary for the NNLE to learn from NCLEX-RN in several aspects,including increasing the frequency of exam,providing examinees with individualized services,and continuing reforming exam content and format.By better aligning the content and format of the examination with the current nursing paradigm and clinical requirements,nurses may enter the healthcare field better prepared to care for patients.Considering the magnitude of their nursing workforce,both China and the United States have great potential to serve as a role model for other developing countries as they look towards establishing national nursing education programs.As new policies around standardized nurse education in China take form,we urge that the NNLE be included alongside curricular reforms.As these reforms are implemented,continued research will be needed to evaluate the effectiveness of curriculum and licensure exam regulations upon nurse preparedness and quality of nursing care in China.
文摘AIM:To evaluate the contribution of alcohol dehydrogenase-1B(ADH1B)and aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2)polymorphisms to the risk of esophageal cancer.METHODS:Nineteen articles were included by searching MEDLINE,EMBASE and the Chinese Biomedical Database,13 on ADH1B and 18 on ALDH2.We performed a meta-analysis of case-control studies including 13 studies on ADH1B(cases/controls:2390/7100)and 18 studies on ALDH2(2631/6030).RESULTS:The crude odds ratio[OR(95%confidence interval)]was 2.91(2.04-4.14)for ADH1B*1/*1(vs ADH1B*2/*2)and 1.32(1.17-1.49)for ADH1B*1/*2.The crude OR for ALDH2*1/*2(vs ALDH2*1/*1)was 2.52(1.76-3.61).ADH1B*1/*1 increased the risk of esophageal cancer among never/rare[1.56(0.93-2.61)],moderate[2.71(1.37-5.35)],and heavy drinkers[3.22 (2.27-4.57)].ADH1B*1/*2 was associated with a modest risk among moderate drinkers[1.43(1.09-1.87)].ALDH2*1/*2 increased the risk among never/rare[1.28 (0.91-1.80)],moderate[3.12(1.95-5.01)],and heavy [7.12(4.67-10.86)]drinkers,and among ex-drinkers [5.64(1.57-20.25)].ALDH2*2/*2 increased the risk among drinkers[4.42(1.72-11.36)].ADH1B*1/*1 plus ALDH2*1/*2 was associated with the highest risk for heavy drinkers[12.45(2.9-53.46)].The results of the meta-regression analysis showed that the effects of ADH1B*1/*1 and ALDH2*1/*2 increased with the level of alcohol consumption.ALDH2*1/*2 was associated with a high risk among Taiwan Chinese and Japanese drinkers,as opposed to a moderate risk among drinkers in high-incidence regions of China's Mainland.ADH1B*1/*1 in heavy drinkers and ALDH2*1/*2 in moderate-toheavy drinkers was associated with similarly high risk among both men and women.CONCLUSION:ADH1B/ALDH2 genotypes affect the risk of esophageal cancer,and the risk is modified by alcohol consumption,ethnicity,and gender.
基金This project is supported by Health Human Resources Development Center of National Health Commission of People’s Republic of China,Chinese Urology Association,Chinese Urological Doctor Association and Beijing Guo Yinglu Urological Development Foundation.
文摘Objective:To grasp the general situation of Chinese urological surgeons and the status quo of their scientific research,work and training,thus providing valuable recommendations for urological talent team construction in future.Methods:The survey respondentswere the urological surgeons,who held the Certificate ofMedical Practitioner in the People’s Republic of China,whose scope of practice was confined to urological surgery.The urological surgeons involved in the project completed an online questionnaire survey.All the data were collected through the internet.Results:There were a total of 18981 urological surgeons in China in 2015,of whom 15875 from 2602 hospitals participated in this project,with a mean age of 39.64 years old.In 2015,1949631 cases of surgery were performed,including 493723 cases of open surgery,1146444 cases of endoscopic/laparoscopic surgery(robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery were excluded),6259 robot-assisted surgery and other types of urological surgery.Besides,Chinese urological surgeons published 1358 monographs as well as 14558 academic papers,and also obtained 2064 scientific funds in 2015.A total of 92122 person-time participated in academic conferences.Urological surgeons with higher educational degrees as well as higher academic titles and from Eastern China or higher-level hospitals hadmore opportunities to participate in further education and training.
文摘The objective of the present study was to investigate our novel methods for the repair of massive cartilage defects by joint distraction and motion using an external fixator. In this study, we used a rabbit model of massive articular cartilage defect in order to evaluate the effectiveness of using joint distraction and motion with a ring-type external fixator. This external fixator has a hinged joint with a center of rotation along the femoral transepicondylar axis, which allows the knee joint to freely flex and extend. Mesenchymal cells from bone marrow, induced by spongialization, were differentiated into mature chondrocytes and formed hyaline-like cartilage as a result of joint distraction and movement. The transplantation of autologous cells expanded from bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal cells, concentrated autologous bone marrow aspirate, and concentrated autologous peripheral blood cells were all effective in promoting cartilage repair. The quality of the cartilage after long-term joint distraction for 6 months was inferior to that after 12 weeks. In general, weight bearing on the regenerated cartilage promoted cartilage repair, although this effect differed based on when gradual weight bearing was begun. Specifically, gradual weight bearing beginning at 9 weeks produced superior results to that beginning at 6 weeks. Our methods provide an optimal environment for cartilage regeneration.
文摘Thermal processing of milk is an important unit operation to inactivate the spoilage organism and enzymes and thus increase the storage life of milk, It was very difficult to find out the temperature distribution inside the cans during thermal processing. A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model was developed for thermization of milk in the can heating at 65℃ for the first time to determine the temperature distribution in the canned milk at stationary position. This developed CFD model was validated with the experimental measurements of temperature. The effects of thermization temperature on milk flow profile (velocity), milk temperature and viscosity profiles inside the can during thermal process were investigated. Temperature profiles of milk in can at three different planes (i.e. top, middle and bottom plane) were studied. Moreover, thermization unit was calculated by correlating with temperature and it was found that maximum thermization unit was achieved at 540 s of thermal processing of milk in can.
文摘The HIV/AIDS epidemic has grown on an unprecedented scale since it was first recognized, and presently it is considered as a well known global public health crisis. In making the health policy where millions of populations are at risk, it is necessary to understand the knowledge level about HIV/AIDS. So, this study aimed at to investigate the knowledge level about HIV/AIDS among the villagers. Data and necessary information were collected from one hundred villagers of Salmanpur from Comilla district, Bangladesh through a structured questionnaire. The collected data were used for univariate analysis, to carry out the description of the variables;and to justify the total score of knowledge about HIV/AIDS among the respondents, Cronbach’s alpha (α) was calculated. The results revealed that almost all the respondents (92.00%) were ever heard about HIV/AIDS and half of them (51.00%) were known it as a communicable disease. Majority of the respondents (62.00%) believed that it is caused by heterosexual relation as well as sex with HIV positive persons. However, a good number of respondents were found unaware about the major causes and preventive ways of AIDS. Less than half of the respondents (45.00%) had medium knowledge (α = 0.34 - 0.66) and only 36.00% had the enough knowledge about HIV/AIDS. The knowledge level is increasing with the increase of education level, and the respondents who involved in agricultural works are found the lowest knowledge level (47.00%) about HIV/AIDS. The villagers were known about HIV/AIDS but they do not have accurate information about the ways in which AIDS virus can or cannot be transmitted. Therefore, effective programs should be taken to increase the knowledge level about HIV/AIDS among the villagers in Bangladesh.
文摘The different solvent extracts of the leaves of Plectranthus amboinicus were evaluated for their antioxidant and anti-bacterial properties. The ethyl acetate extract of the leaves which had the highest polyphenolic content showed an appreciable DPPH radical scavenging activity as well as total antioxidant capacity as compared with extracts obtained using hexane, acetone, methanol, hydroalcohol and freeze dried form. The acetone extract of the leaves which had the second highest polyphenolic content showed appreciable antibacterial activity with least MIC values against the tested foodborne pathogens namely Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli and Yersinia enterocolitica. The findings indicated the potentiality of ethyl acetate and acetone extract of the leaves of Indian borage for use as biopreservatives as they showed high antioxidant and antibacterial activities.
文摘Bangladesh is on target for achieving the Millennium Development Goal 4 relating to infant and under-five mortality because of very rapid reduction in mortality in recent years. But this rate of reduction may be difficult to sustain and may hamper the achievement of Millennium Development Goal 4. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to discuss and compare the dif- ferent covariates of infant and under-five mortality in the context of overall country, urban and rural levels of Bangladesh using discriminant analysis. For this, the data are taken from Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, 2004. In discriminant analysis, the stepwise procedure has been picked up and only the significant variables are ranked according to the rank of Wilk's Lambda val- ues. The canonical discriminant function coefficients (unstandard- ized and standardized) for the predictor variables have also been calculated. Both the results show that breastfeeding is the most important variable in discriminating the two groups of mothers, i.e., mothers experiencing to infant mortality or not and mothers experiencing to under-five mortality or not. The related results of discriminant function also indicate that the discriminant func- tion is statistically significant and discriminates well. Therefore, improvements in the health system are essential for promoting the breastfeeding practices (both inclusive and exclusive), which may be the effective strategies to reach families and communities with targeted messages and information.
文摘Objective:To examine the determinants of emergency contraceptive pill use in Bangladesh.Methods:Data for this cross-sectional study came from 2017-2018 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey.Characteristics of 906 reproductive age women who were potential candidates for using emergency contraceptive pill were analysed in this study.Data were analysed using univariate and multivariate analyses.Stepwise binary logistic regression was employed as multivariate analysis.Results:Only 10.9%candidates were found to ever use emergency contraceptive pill.The odds of using emergency contraceptive pill for women visited by family planning field worker was significantly higher than that for those who were not visited by family planning field worker[odds ratio(OR)1.94;95%confidence interval(CI)1.19–3.17;P=0.008],while the odds of using emergency contraceptive pill for women with high socioeconomic status was higher than that for those with low socioeconomic status(OR 3.10;95%CI 1.61–5.97;P=0.001).Additionally,having some media access was linked to an increase in the odds of using emergency contraceptive pill(OR 3.01;95%CI 1.33–6.83;P=0.008).Women empowerment related factors did not show any significant effect on emergency contraceptive pill use.Conclusions:The findings indicate that family planning programme has a great opportunity of playing an important role in increasing emergency contraceptive pill use in Bangladesh by increasing the knowledge and awareness of women about emergency contraceptive pill.
文摘This article attempts to examine the influence of some selected predictor variables on female age at first marriage in slum areas of Bangladesh.A path and multiple classification analysis(MCA) approach have been adopted.Authors thought that respondent's educational level and the mass media such as watching television have a significant direct impact on age at marriage,while the types of family and occupational status have an indirect effect on age at marriage.
基金supported by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea and the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF-2019S1A5B5A02041334).
文摘The identification and mitigation of anomaly data,characterized by deviations from normal patterns or singularities,stand as critical endeavors in modern technological landscapes,spanning domains such as Non-Fungible Tokens(NFTs),cyber-security,and the burgeoning metaverse.This paper presents a novel proposal aimed at refining anomaly detection methodologies,with a particular focus on continuous data streams.The essence of the proposed approach lies in analyzing the rate of change within such data streams,leveraging this dynamic aspect to discern anomalies with heightened precision and efficacy.Through empirical evaluation,our method demonstrates a marked improvement over existing techniques,showcasing more nuanced and sophisticated result values.Moreover,we envision a trajectory of continuous research and development,wherein iterative refinement and supplementation will tailor our approach to various anomaly detection scenarios,ensuring adaptability and robustness in real-world applications.
文摘The public health significance of Yersinia spp. gives a new dimension to the prevailing food chain, wherein the foods do get exposed to heat and cold treatments. In this study, the effect of heat treatment on the native isolates of Yersinia enterocolitica CFR 2301 and Y. intermedia CFR 2303 revealed the D-values ranging from the lowest of 0.08 min at 65℃ in skim milk/beef gravy to the highest of 18.52 min at 50℃ in beef gravy. The heat sensitivity of both these cultures was in the order of Milli-Q water > 0.85% saline > skim milk > beef gravy. The z-values of the test cultures ranged from 7.55℃ for Y. intermedia to 12.08℃ for Y. enterocolitica. The heat sensitivity in Y. enterocolitica appeared to be related with growth incubation temperatures and also fatty acid profile of cell membrane. The effect of low temperature treatments (–20 ℃, 0℃ and 4℃ for 20 d) in water, saline and skim milk revealed the ability of Y. enterocolitica to survive more efficiently at –20℃, while Y. intermedia was more tolerant at 0℃. In packaged drinking water, Y. enterocolitica could survive and grow at 4℃ and 16℃, while at 30℃, inactivation was rapid. The findings did indicate that heat and cold treatments would not always ensure safety from Y. enterocolitica and Y. intermedia in the food chain.
文摘Milk chocolates were prepared by replacing skim milk powder in the formulation with yoghurt powder at 50% and 100% levels. The effect of incorporating yoghurt powder on quality of chocolates was studied. No significant changes were observed in fatty acid profile and hardness of the chocolates. Sour taste of chocolate with yoghurt powder due to its acidity was neutralized by adding calculated amount of sodium bicarbonate. Sensory analysis showed that probiotic chocolates were highly acceptable and similar to control chocolate. Microbiological studies of chocolates showed the presence of Lactobacillus species to the extent of 3.37 log·cfu/g, which were not present in the control sample prepared only with skim milk powder. Rheological studies showed that milk chocolate prepared using yoghurt powder at 50% showed no significant changes in yield value compared to that of control, but at 100% addition a considerable decrease in yield value was observed. Microstructural properties of chocolate with 50% addition of yoghurt powder showed smaller particles adhering to the cocoa and sugar crystals but at 100% addition of yoghurt powder, the cocoa particles were completely covered by smaller yoghurt powder matrix.
文摘Bali Island, Indonesia is undergoing rapid land use changes due to heavy development pressure and its fast growing urban population. One such urbanization phenomenon is the shrinkage, deterioration, and disappearance of traditional small urban green spaces in Denpasar, Bali. Focusing on telajakan, a strip of traditional green space between the wall of a housing compound and a ditch/pedestrian path in a roadside, the study aims 1) to investigate and document the changes that are occurring with regards to telajakan and 2) to assess the functions (roles) of telajakan in Denpasar. The research methods include vegetation assessment at a lot scale and in-depth homeowner and village leader interviews with the help of local experts. The results show that telajakan space is often paved over to give way to more front space for the property owner and to ease maintenance. It is also minimized or destroyed as the owner builds a more “western” style house. Traditionally telajakan has multiple functions such as provision of plant and flower materials for Balinese daily rituals, regu-lation of stormwater from the property, and offering semi-public space for street vendors and neighbours. However, the results show that: diversity of planted species is decreasing;only a couple of functions such as aesthetics and economics are strongly favored;and the semi-public nature of telajakan is being lost. Since telajakan is as much traditional green open space as part of the aesthetics of the Balinese architecture, its loss, minimization, and degradation lead to the loss of Balinese culture and identity. On the other hand, new meaning is given to telajakan’s functions such as neighborhood beautification and exhibition of the owner’s pride in the modern context. Therefore, policy recommendations to conserve telajakan in the changing urban fabric need to balance these changing needs of telajakan for its use and conservation of traditional rituals and culture of Bali.
文摘The main purpose of this study is to find the awareness level as well as the determinants of awareness on HIV/AIDS among the garments workers in Dhaka City, Bangladesh. To do so, 200 garments workers were interviewed through a structured questionnaire using purposive sampling technique. As the statistical tools, univariate analysis was completed to figure out frequency distribution and the binary logistic regression model was used to predict the probability occurrence of the events by fitting data. The results revealed that the majority of the garments workers (63.5%) are very young (18 - 27 years), almost all (97.5%) are literate and most of them (57.0%) used contraceptives. Importantly, most of the respondents (64.0%) had not participated in any type of seminar or workshop related to HIV/AIDS, though almost all the respondents (84.5%) know HIV is a dangerous and life threatening disease. The logistic regression model identified that respondents' education, contraceptive usage, mass media and HIV workshops have statistically significant positive effects on HIV/AIDS awareness. Various media campaigns are strongly suggested to be increased knowledge and awareness to control the spread of HIV as well as STDs among garments workers in Bangladesh.
文摘The effect of two fixed vertical boundaries, a finite distance apart, on the dynamics of a column of buoyant fluid rising in a less buoyant fluid is investigated in the presence of vertical rotation. It is shown that the presence of the boundaries introduces two main effects on a rotating plume. They tend to stabilise the plume but succeed only reducing the value of the growth rate and the plume remains unstable for all finite values of the distance between the boundaries and the plume. In the absence of the sidewalls, two modes of the instability were found known as the sinuous mode and the varicose mode. The influence of the boundaries is such that it reduces the growth rate of the varicose mode more than that of the sinuous mode and consequently the modified sinuous mode is always preferred in the presence of the boundaries.
基金financial support from Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (Autonomous)Kochi+1 种基金Indiain the seed money category for minor faculty research projects
文摘Shikimic acid is a hydroaromatic compound possessing critical biological properties,such as antibacterial and antiviral activity.This review mainly focused on shikimic acid and its derivatives.We first briefly introduced the sources of shikimic acid and its derivatives and discussed their biosynthesis.Several in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that shikimic acid and its derivatives exhibit diverse bioactivities,such as antioxidant,antiviral,anti-inflammatory,antibacterial,hypolipidemic,bone protective,skin protective,neuroprotective,and antidiabetic activities.We mainly focused on the related molecular mechanisms.Overall,the wide range of bioactivities of shikimic acid and its derivatives indicate that a more detailed exploration of their potential for the prevention and treatment of certain diseases is warranted.
文摘Bali Island, Indonesia, is undergoing rapid land use changes owing to tourism-related development and urbanization. Consequently, urban green spaces, which provide a myriad of benefits to residents, are disappearing and deteriorating. Focusing on telajakan, a strip of traditional green space between the frontal wall of a housing compound and a ditch/pedestrian path in a roadside, the study aims: 1) to investigate and document the changes that are occurring with regards to telajakan in Denpasar, Bali and 2) to evaluate the functions of the plantings in telajakan. The research methods include literature review on traditional green spaces in Bali, vegetation survey at a lot scale, and homeowner interviews with the help of local experts. The study found that: 1) aesthetics, economics, and rituals are the top three functions provided by the telajakan plants with aesthetic function being by far the most provided function;2) species diversity does not correspond with functional diversity;and 3) telajakan space itself is often minimized or sometimes lost completely for more inner, privatized space or for vehicle parking lot for shop owners. Since telajakan is an important component of traditional Balinese architecture, its loss, degradation, and marginalization necessarily lead to the loss of Balinese culture and identity. This study hints, however, a new form of social interaction through aesthetically-pleasing telajakan. Also, functional diversity, which is arguably as important as species diversity, can be maintained by carefully selecting indigenous species with multiple functions.